Rice University Athletics
Thursday, April 9
College Station, TX
Rice University
at
44 Farms Team Invitational
Owls Have Impressive Showing at A&M
4/12/2026 12:08:00 AM | Women's Track & Field
COLLEGE STATION – The Rice women's track and field team had strong showings all throughout the three-day meet at the 44 Farms Team Invitational at Texas A&M.
Rice's multis had an incredible meet, with Alice Taylor shattering her previous personal best mark with 5605 points in the heptathlon (prev. 5135). Julia Johannesdottir also set a personal best with 5536 points (prev. 5396) as the two finished second and fourth in the event.
In the javelin, Mckyla Van der Westhuizen claimed another event title with a 56-meter throw. Emily Harbach finished fourth with a 48-meter throw while Elena Schwegman was seventh.
Sydney Rothman had a personal-best clearance of 3.82m in the pole vault to finish third. Lauren Schmitt and Sima Ashkinezer added personal-best clearances of 3.67m.
Sutton Walsh took fifth in the 5000m with a 25-second personal best time of 18:17.37.
Miranda Schriver was second in the 1500m, while Brooklyn Crow finished eighth.
Post Meet Reaction - Head Coach Jim Bevan
"There was so much to be happy with this weekend. First, the heptathlon was incredible. Alice had a 500-point improvement, potentially doing enough to clinch a ticket to Eugene in June, and Julia had a personal best, probably sitting around the bubble to get in. It was so impressive to see what those two accomplished. We continue with the javelin, Mckyla with a great throw to win, Emily and Elena also looked good today, even with funky winds at times. We had progress in our vaulters, which was really good to see. On the track, Saniya ran well in a crazy fast 100m. Barbora had a really good first 400m against some really great competition. Sutton Walsh with a massive personal best time in the 5000m and our two 1500m runners ran well. I was really impressed with how we looked today and look forward to seeing us continue to get better."
RESULTS (Top finishers)
100m
7. Saniya Friendly – 11.54
400m
5. Barbora Malíková – 52.56
400m Hurdles
5. Sydney Freeman – 1:00.37
1500m
2. Miranda Schriver – 4:33.45
8. Brooklyn Crow – 4:44.91
5000m
5. Sutton Walsh – 18:17.37
4x400
6. Mickles, Green, Freeman, Malikova – 3:38.62 - SB
Javelin
1. Mckyla Van der Westhuizen – 56.95m (186-10)
4. Emily Harbach – 48.14m (157-11)
7. Elena Schwegman – 45.45m (149-1)
Pole Vault
3. Sydney Rothman – 3.82m (12-6.25) – PB
7. Lauren Schmitt – 3.67m (12-0.25) – PB
8. Sima Ashkinezer – 3.67m (12-0.25) – PB
High Jump
5. Josie Taylor – 1.68m (5-6)
6. Alice Taylor – 1.68m (5-6)
Hammer Throw
8. Alexandra Toney – 51.81m (169-11) – PB
Heptathlon
2. Alice Taylor – 5605 points – PB
4. Julia Johannesdottir – 5536 points - PB
UP NEXT
The Owls will divide up between a trio of meets (UH, Long Beach, Bryan Clay).
Rice's multis had an incredible meet, with Alice Taylor shattering her previous personal best mark with 5605 points in the heptathlon (prev. 5135). Julia Johannesdottir also set a personal best with 5536 points (prev. 5396) as the two finished second and fourth in the event.
In the javelin, Mckyla Van der Westhuizen claimed another event title with a 56-meter throw. Emily Harbach finished fourth with a 48-meter throw while Elena Schwegman was seventh.
Sydney Rothman had a personal-best clearance of 3.82m in the pole vault to finish third. Lauren Schmitt and Sima Ashkinezer added personal-best clearances of 3.67m.
Sutton Walsh took fifth in the 5000m with a 25-second personal best time of 18:17.37.
Miranda Schriver was second in the 1500m, while Brooklyn Crow finished eighth.
"There was so much to be happy with this weekend. First, the heptathlon was incredible. Alice had a 500-point improvement, potentially doing enough to clinch a ticket to Eugene in June, and Julia had a personal best, probably sitting around the bubble to get in. It was so impressive to see what those two accomplished. We continue with the javelin, Mckyla with a great throw to win, Emily and Elena also looked good today, even with funky winds at times. We had progress in our vaulters, which was really good to see. On the track, Saniya ran well in a crazy fast 100m. Barbora had a really good first 400m against some really great competition. Sutton Walsh with a massive personal best time in the 5000m and our two 1500m runners ran well. I was really impressed with how we looked today and look forward to seeing us continue to get better."
100m
7. Saniya Friendly – 11.54
400m
5. Barbora Malíková – 52.56
400m Hurdles
5. Sydney Freeman – 1:00.37
1500m
2. Miranda Schriver – 4:33.45
8. Brooklyn Crow – 4:44.91
5000m
5. Sutton Walsh – 18:17.37
4x400
6. Mickles, Green, Freeman, Malikova – 3:38.62 - SB
Javelin
1. Mckyla Van der Westhuizen – 56.95m (186-10)
4. Emily Harbach – 48.14m (157-11)
7. Elena Schwegman – 45.45m (149-1)
Pole Vault
3. Sydney Rothman – 3.82m (12-6.25) – PB
7. Lauren Schmitt – 3.67m (12-0.25) – PB
8. Sima Ashkinezer – 3.67m (12-0.25) – PB
High Jump
5. Josie Taylor – 1.68m (5-6)
6. Alice Taylor – 1.68m (5-6)
Hammer Throw
8. Alexandra Toney – 51.81m (169-11) – PB
Heptathlon
2. Alice Taylor – 5605 points – PB
4. Julia Johannesdottir – 5536 points - PB
The Owls will divide up between a trio of meets (UH, Long Beach, Bryan Clay).
Players Mentioned
/ Women's Track & Field
Distance
/ Women's Track & Field
/ Women's Track & Field
Sprints
/ Women's Track & Field
Throws
/ Women's Track & Field
Multis
/ Women's Track & Field
Sprints
/ Women's Track & Field
/ Women's Track & Field
Pole Vault
/ Women's Track & Field
Distance
/ Women's Track & Field
Javelin
/ Women's Track & Field
Jumps/Multis
/ Women's Track & Field
Jumps
/ Women's Track & Field
Throws
/ Women's Track & Field
Javelin
/ Women's Track & Field
Distance
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